Display Device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a view generator, for generating a plurality of input view numbers according to a plurality of reference parameters; a view curve modifier, coupled to the view generator, for generating a plurality of output view numbers according to the plurality of input view numbers and at least one S curve; a three dimensional (3D) image data sampling module, coupled to the view curve modifier, for adjusting image data of a plurality of pixels according to the plurality of output view numbers; and a display module, coupled to the 3D image data sampling module, for displaying at least one image according to the plurality of pixels and the image data.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is related to a display device, and moreparticularly, to a display device of improving a quality of threedimensional (3D) images.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Display devices with three dimensional (3D) display technologies havebeen developed, to provide a 3D visual effect to a viewer. For example,the display devices display images of appropriate viewing angles of anobject to a right eye and a left eye of the viewer, and the viewer maybe able to sense the 3D visual effect.

In the prior art, the display devices with a 2-view 3D displaytechnology or a multi-view 3D display technology provide images ofpredetermined viewing angles of the object to the viewer. However, thedisplay devices may provide blurred images due to a phenomenon ofcrosstalk between views of the object. Thus, a display device ofimproving a quality of 3D images is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure therefore provides a device and a method forsolving the abovementioned problem.

A display device comprises a view generator, for generating a pluralityof input view numbers according to a plurality of reference parameters;a view curve modifier, coupled to the view generator, for generating aplurality of output view numbers according to the plurality of inputview numbers and at least one S curve; a three dimensional (3D) imagedata sampling module, coupled to the view curve modifier, for adjustingimage data of a plurality of pixels according to the plurality of outputview numbers; and a display module, coupled to the 3D image datasampling module, for displaying at least one image according to theplurality of pixels and the image data.

A method for improving a quality of 3D images, comprises generating aplurality of input view numbers according to a plurality of referenceparameters; generating a plurality of output view numbers according tothe plurality of input view numbers and at least one S curve; adjustingimage data of a plurality of pixels according to the plurality of outputview numbers; and displaying at least one image according to theplurality of pixels and the image data.

These and other objectives of the present disclosure will no doubtbecome obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the embodiment that is illustrated inthe various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a display device according to anexample of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a relation diagram between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a relation diagram between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a viewing pattern of the display module and the opticalmodulator according to an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a relation diagram between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a relation diagram between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a viewing scenario according to anexample of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a display device according to anexample of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of modification factorsaccording to an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process according to an example of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims,which refer to particular components. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a componentby different names. This document does not intend to distinguish betweencomponents that differ in name but not in function. In the followingdescription and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” areused in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean“include, but not limited to herein”.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a display device 10 according to anexample of the present disclosure. The display device 10 includes an eyetracking module 100, a controller 102, a display module 140 and anoptical modulator 150. In detail, the controller 102 allocates imagedata to a plurality of pixels of the display module 140, and includes aneye tracking module 100, a view generator 110, a view curve modifier120, a three dimensional (3D) image data sampling module 130. The viewgenerator 110 receives a plurality of reference parameters, andgenerates a plurality of input view numbers according to the pluralityof reference parameters. The view curve modifier 120 is coupled to theview generator 110, and receives the plurality of input view numbers.The view curve modifier 120 generates a plurality of output view numbersaccording to the plurality of input view numbers and at least one Scurve. The 3D image data sampling module 130 is coupled to the viewcurve modifier 120, and receives the plurality of output view numbers .The 3D image data sampling module 130 adjusts image data of theplurality of pixels of the display module 140 according to the pluralityof output view numbers. The display module 140 is coupled to the 3Dimage data sampling module 130, and displays at least one imageaccording to the plurality of pixels and the image data. That is, the atleast one S curve describes a relation between the plurality of inputview numbers and the plurality of output view numbers, to modify viewscorresponding to viewing positions for a viewer. Thus, the imageblurring can be reduced. The quality of the 3D images can be improved.

In one example, the plurality of reference parameters may include aplurality of positions of the plurality of pixels of the display module140. In one example, the plurality of reference parameters may include aplurality of positions of a viewer's eyes. Further, the eye trackingmodule 100 is coupled to the view generator 110, and tracks theplurality of positions of the viewer's eyes, to estimate positions ofthe viewer's right eye and left eye. In one example, the plurality ofreference parameters may include at least one optical parameter of theoptical modulator 150. The optical modulator 150 is coupled to thedisplay module 140, and modulates a plurality of lighting directions ofthe plurality of pixels of the display module 140. For example, the atleast one optical parameter may include pitch of the optical modulator150, an angle of the optical modulator 150 or an alignment offset of theoptical modulator 150. That is, the view generator 110 may generate aninput view number according to a position of a pixel, the at least oneoptical parameter of the optical modulator 150 and the plurality ofpositions of the viewer's eyes.

In one example, the at least one S curve includes a plurality of linesegments, and at least one slope of at least one line segment of theplurality of line segments is smaller than or equal to one. For example,the slope of the at least one line segment of the plurality of linesegments may be from 0.2 to 0.4, but is not limited herein. In oneexample, the at least one S curve includes a plurality of line segments,and at least two line segments of the plurality of line segments have asame slope. In one example, the at least one S curve includes aplurality of line segments, and a slope of at least one line segment ofthe plurality of line segments is equal to zero. In one example, one ormore pairs of the plurality of line segments may be connected directlyor indirectly. In one example, one or more pairs of the plurality ofline segments may be connected horizontally with vertical distances.

In one example, the at least one S curve includes a plurality of planes,and at least two planes of the plurality of planes have a same normalvector. In one example, the at least one S curve includes a plurality ofplanes, and at least two planes of the plurality of planes havedifferent normal vectors. In one example, one or more pairs of theplurality of planes may be connected directly or indirectly.

In one example, the view curve modifier 120 generates the plurality ofoutput view numbers according to the plurality of input view numbers andthe at least one S curve and a look-up table. The look-up table providesthe relation between the plurality of input view numbers and theplurality of output view numbers. That is, the view curve modifier 120may include the look-up table. In one example, the view curve modifier120 generates the plurality of output view numbers according to theplurality of input view numbers and the at least one S curve and afunction. The function provides the relation between the plurality ofinput view numbers and the plurality of output view numbers. That is,the view curve modifier 120 may be a calculation module including thefunction. In one example, the view curve modifier generates theplurality of output view numbers according to the plurality of inputview numbers and the at least one S curve and a plurality of smoothingfactors.

In one example, the 3D image data sampling module 130 may furtherreceive 3D data corresponding to the plurality of pixels (e.g., from a3D data storage element or a transmitter) , wherein the 3D data mayinclude at least one of geometry data, color data (e.g., colorinformation), lighting data (e.g., light source information) or materialdata (e.g., surface scattering property), but is not limited herein. Inone example, the 3D image data sampling module 130 defines an eye-to-eyeline, and converts the plurality of output view numbers to viewingpositions on the eye-to-eye line. The 3D image data sampling module 130calculates ray vectors from the viewing positions to the plurality ofpixels. Then, the 3D image data sampling module 130 generates values ofa gray level (e.g., in a range 0 to 255) corresponding to the pluralityof pixels by 3D data sampling along the ray vectors according to the 3Ddata and a ray tracing 3D computer graphic (3DCG) manner. That is, the3D image data sampling module 130 may generate the value of the graylevel according to the 3D data and the plurality of output view numbers,to adjust the image data of the plurality of pixels.

In one example, the display module 140 may be at least one of a liquidcrystal display (LCD) module or an organic light emitting diode (OLED)display module, a quantum light emitting diode (QLED) display module, amini light emitting diode (mini-LED) display module, a micro lightemitting diode (micro-LED) display module, but is not limited herein. Inone example, the optical modulator 150 may be at least one of alenticular lens film, a liquid crystal (LC) gradient index (GRIN) lens,a parallax barrier, a liquid crystal (LC) parallax barrier or a microlens array (MLA), but is not limited herein.

It should be noted that, the view curve modifier 120 is drawn to becoupled with the view generator 110 in FIG. 1, to illustrate themodified operations of the present disclosure. In some examples of thepresent disclosure, the view curve modifier 120 may be a part of theview generator 110, or may be an independent module for modifying theview numbers. When the view curve modifier 120 is a part of the viewgenerator 110, the view generator 110 generates the same view numberswith the view curve modifier 120, i.e., the view generator 110 maydirectly generate the plurality of output view numbers.

In one example, all pixels of the display module 140 may be divided to aplurality of pattern blocks, and one pattern block of the plurality ofpattern blocks includes the plurality of pixels. That is, differentpattern blocks are corresponding to different groups of input viewnumbers. For example, the plurality of input view numbers may beallocated to sub-pixels in a pattern block independently, to show rayvectors directed from viewing positions on an eye to eye line to targetpixels of the plurality of pixels.

FIG. 2 is a relation diagram 20 between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure. The relation diagram 20 may be utilized for realizing arelation between the plurality of input view numbers and the pluralityof output view numbers in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, ranges of the originalviewing positions and the modified viewing positions are from −128 to127 for an 8-bit case. However, the present disclosure is not limited tothe 8-bit case. The original viewing position with a value “0” isrepresented as a center position of a viewer's eyes. The originalviewing positions with values from “−128” to “−1” are represented asviewing positions for a right eye of the viewer. The original viewingpositions with values from “1” to “127” are represented as viewingpositions for a left eye of the viewer. The original viewing position isrearranged to the modified viewing position (e.g., by the view curvemodifier 120), and the modified viewing position and the originalviewing position may be the same or different.

After being modified, the modified viewing positions have fewer viewsthan the original viewing positions. After that, images of the fewerviews are displayed, and the viewer's eyes see the images of the fewerviews at the same time. Thus, the influence of the image blurring can bereduced, and the quality of the 3D images can be improved. In addition,the display device of the present disclosure may give the viewer depthcue of eye accommodation, to avoid a vergence accommodation conflict(VAC) issue.

According to FIG. 2, a relation between the original viewing positionsand the modified viewing positions has an S curve. The S curve includesline segments, and the line segments have a slope SP1 for the right eyeand a slope SP2 for the left eye. The slope SP1 and the slope SP2 aresmaller than one, and may be the same.

FIG. 3 is a relation diagram 30 between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure. The relation diagram 30 may be utilized for realizing arelation between the plurality of input view numbers and the pluralityof output view numbers in FIG. 1.

According to FIG. 3, an S curve is modified by a plurality of smoothingfactors 300 in a dotted area 302, a dotted area 304 and a dotted area306. That is, the plurality of smoothing factors 300 are for smoothingthe S curve, to generate a smooth S curve. Thus, the viewer may not seediscontinuous views or double image(s), when the viewer's head moves.The 3D visual effect of the images is improved.

In one example, the plurality of smoothing factors 300 may berepresented by formulas. That is, the S curve may be filtered by theformulas, to generate the smooth S curve.

FIG. 4 is a viewing pattern 40 of the display module 140 and the opticalmodulator 150 according to an example of the present disclosure. In FIG.4, pixels of the display module 140 are for displaying images to aviewer. For example, viewing pixels VP1 s display images via a lensfocusing area A1 of the optical modulator 150. Viewing pixels VP2 sdisplay images via a lens focusing area A2 of the optical modulator 150.Viewing pixels VP3 s display images via a lens focusing area A3 of theoptical modulator 150. It should be noted that, X mark pixels XPs in theviewing pixels have an impact on the images blurring because the X markpixels XPs may provide undesirable extra views to the viewer. The viewcurve modifier 120 can rearrange the X mark pixels XPs to the viewingpixels VP1 s, viewing pixels VP2 s or viewing pixels VP3 s. Thereforethe rearranged X mark pixels show the desirable image, and thephenomenon of crosstalk and/or the image blurring can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a relation diagram 50 between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure. The relation diagram 50 may be utilized for realizing arelation between the plurality of input view numbers and the pluralityof output view numbers in FIG. 1. The original viewing position isrearranged to the modified viewing position (e.g., by the view curvemodifier 120). The modified viewing position and the original viewingposition are the same, when the modified viewing position is in aviewing range VR1 of the viewer's right eye or a viewing range VR2 ofthe viewer's left eye. Otherwise, the modified viewing position is assame as the closest modified viewing position in the viewing range VR1or the viewing range VR2.

After being modified, the modified viewing positions in the viewingrange VR1 and the view range VR2 have views the same as those of theoriginal viewing positions. When not being in the viewing range VR1 andthe view range VR2, the adjacent modified viewing positions have thesame view. Thus, the phenomenon of crosstalk and/or the image blurringcan be reduced by eliminating extra view information. The quality of the3D images can be improved.

According to FIG. 5, a relation between the original viewing positionsand the modified viewing positions has a double S curve. The double Scurve includes line segments, and the line segments have a slope SP1 anda slope SP2. The slope SP1 and the slope SP2 are equal to one. In oneexample, the line segments have a slope, and the slope is equal to zero.

FIG. 6 is a relation diagram 60 between original viewing positions andmodified viewing positions according to an example of the presentdisclosure. The relation diagram 60 may be utilized for realizing arelation between the plurality of input view numbers and the pluralityof output view numbers in FIG. 1. The original viewing position isrearranged to the modified viewing position (e.g., by the view curvemodifier 120). The modified viewing position and the original viewingposition may be the same or different.

After being modified, the modified viewing positions have fewer viewsthan the original viewing positions. After that, images of fewer viewsare displayed, and the viewer's eyes see the images of the fewer viewsat the same time.

According to FIG. 6, a relation between the original viewing positionsand the modified viewing positions has a multi-S curve. The multi-Scurve includes line segments, and the line segments have a slope SP1, aslope SP2, a slope SP3 and a slope SP4. The slope SP1, the slope SP2,the slope SP3 and the slope SP4 are smaller than one, and may be thesame. It should be noted that, the present disclosure is not limitedthat the line segments of the multi-S curve have the four slopes. Theline segments of multi-S curve may have less or more slopes, e.g., morethan three slopes.

In one example, the display device 10 may provide images for multipleviewers according to the relation diagram 60. For example, the displaydevice 10 may generate 3D visual effect by providing the images ofdifferent viewing angles fora first viewer. A second viewer may alsosense the 3D visual effect according to the images, if the second vieweris close to the first viewer and shares the same eye-to-eye line as thefirst viewer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a viewing scenario 70 according to anexample of the present disclosure. In this example, the display module140 may be a mini LED display module, a micro LEDs display module or adisplay module with micro lens arrays (MLAs), but is not limited herein.According to FIG. 7, the display module 140 includes a light source 700and a pixel plane 702 of an s-t axis, and is watched by a viewer 704.The 3D image data sampling module 130 may generate parameters of acenter position VC of viewer 704's eyes on an eye-to-eye line ELaccording to positions of the viewer 704's eyes detected by the eyetracking module 100. The 3D image data sampling module 130 generatesparameters of a viewing position plane 706 of the s-t axis correspondingto the pixel plane. That is, the view curve modifier 120 may be a 2Dview curve modifier. The view curve modifier 120 receives the pluralityof input view numbers (s, t), and generates the plurality of output viewnumbers (s, t).

In one example, the s-t axis may be equal to an x-y axis. In oneexample, a relation between the plurality of input view numbers and theplurality of output view numbers has a 2D S curve, and may include 2planes for the right eye and the left eye of the viewer in the s-t axis,respectively. In one example, the view curve modifier 120 may generatethe plurality of output view numbers according to the plurality of inputview numbers, the 2D S curve and a 2D look-up table. In other words, theview curve modifier 120 may include a 2D look-up table. In one example,the plane for the right eye and the plane for the left eye may have thesame normal vector.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a display device 80 according to anexample of the present disclosure. The display device 80 includes theeye tracking module 100, the controller 802, the display module 140 andthe optical modulator 150. The controller 802 allocates image data tothe plurality of pixels of the display module 140, and includes the viewgenerator 110, the view curve modifier 120, the 3D image data samplingmodule 130 and a black data insertion module 812. In detail, the blackdata insertion module 812 is coupled to the view generator 110 and the3D image data sampling module 130, and receives the plurality of inputview numbers from the view generator 110. The black data insertionmodule 812 generates a plurality of modification factors according tothe plurality of input view numbers, and transmits the plurality ofmodification factors to the 3D image data sampling module 130. The 3Dimage data sampling module 130 may adjust the image data of theplurality of pixels according to the plurality of output view numbersgenerated by the view curve modifier 120 and the plurality ofmodification factors. That is, the display device 80 includes the blackdata insertion module 812, to modify light intensity in discontinuousview transition areas. Thus, the phenomenon of crosstalk can be reduced.The 3D visual effect of the images can be improved.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of modification factors 90according to an example of the present disclosure. The plurality ofmodification factors 90 may be utilized for realizing the plurality ofmodification factors generated by the black data insertion module 812 inFIG. 8. According to FIG. 9, when the views are outside views or insideviews (e.g., the views are in discontinuous view transition areas),values of the plurality of modification factors 90 are smaller than one.When the views are not the outside views or the inside views (i.e., theviews are in areas close to the right eye positions or the left eyepositions) , values of the plurality of modification factors 90 are one.That is, the viewer may see darker images in the viewing positionscorresponding to the outside views or the inside views.

In one example, the insertion areas (e.g., areas of the outside viewsand the inside views) may be ten percent of the total views' areas. Inone example, the 3D image data sampling module 130 may modify the valuesof the gray level according to the plurality of modification factors 90,to adjust the image data for the plurality of pixels of the displaymodule 140. Thus, the phenomenon of crosstalk can be reduced, and/or thedouble image issue may be solved. The quality of the 3D images can beimproved.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process 1000 according to an example of thepresent disclosure. The process 1000 is utilized in the display device10, and includes the following steps:

Step 1002: Start.

Step 1004: Generate a plurality of input view numbers according to aplurality of reference parameters.

Step 1006: Generate a plurality of output view numbers according to theplurality of input view numbers and at least one S curve.

Step 1008: Adjust image data of a plurality of pixels according to theplurality of output view numbers.

Step 1010: Display at least one image according to the plurality ofpixels and the image data.

Step 1012: End.

Detailed description and variations of the process 1000 can be referredto the previous description, and are not narrated herein. Those skilledin the art should readily make combinations, modifications and/oralterations on the abovementioned description and examples.

In the above examples, the term “from A to B” is an inclusivedescription, i.e., A and B are included.

To sum up, the present disclosure provides a display device and a methodwith 3D display technologies. The display device modifies the viewscorresponding to the viewing positions. Thus, the image blurring due tothe phenomenon of crosstalk can be reduced. In additions, the doubleimage issue and/or the VAC issue can be solved. As a result, the qualityof the 3D images can be improved.

Also, to determine whether the present disclosed display device has beeninfringed, a structure and 3D image performance of a display device atissue would be analyzed by a camera or a special optical measurementsystem. Angles and positions of the camera would be changed, to take aplurality of photos (e.g., sequential images). The plurality of photoswould be analyzed, to obtain how an edge position of an object shifts inviewing angles. According the plurality of photos, whether the displaydevice at issue has infringed the present disclosed display device isdetermined.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

1. A display device, comprising: a view generator, for generating aplurality of input view numbers according to a plurality of referenceparameters; a view curve modifier, coupled to the view generator, forgenerating a plurality of output view numbers according to the pluralityof input view numbers and at least one S curve; a three dimensional (3D)image data sampling module, coupled to the view curve modifier, foradjusting image data of a plurality of pixels according to the pluralityof output view numbers; and a display module, coupled to the 3D imagedata sampling module, for displaying at least one image according to theplurality of pixels and the image data.
 2. The display device of claim1, wherein the plurality of reference parameters comprise a plurality ofpositions of a viewer's eyes, and the display device further comprises:an eye tracking module, coupled to the view generator, for tracking theplurality of positions of the viewer's eyes.
 3. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of reference parameters comprise at leastone optical parameter of an optical modulator, and the display devicefurther comprises: the optical modulator, coupled to the display module,for modulating a plurality of lighting directions of the plurality ofpixels of the display module.
 4. The display device of claim 1, whereinthe at least one S curve comprises a plurality of line segments, and atleast one slope of at least one line segment of the plurality of linesegments is smaller than or equal to one.
 5. The display device of claim1, wherein the at least one S curve comprises a plurality of linesegments, and at least two line segments of the plurality of linesegments have a same slope.
 6. The display device of claim 1, whereinthe at least one S curve comprises a plurality of line segments, and aslope of at least one line segment of the plurality of line segments isequal to zero.
 7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the at leastone S curve comprises a plurality of planes, and at least two planes ofthe plurality of planes have a same normal vector.
 8. The display deviceof claim 1, wherein the view curve modifier generates the plurality ofoutput view numbers according to the plurality of input view numbers andthe at least one S curve and a look-up table.
 9. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the view curve modifier generates the plurality ofoutput view numbers according to the plurality of input view numbers andthe at least one S curve and a plurality of smoothing factors.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the 3D image data sampling moduleadjusts the image data of the plurality of pixels according to theplurality of output view numbers and a plurality of modificationfactors, and the display device further comprises: a black datainsertion module, coupled to the view generator and the 3D image datasampling module, for generating the plurality of modification factors.11. A method for improving a quality of three dimensional (3D) images,comprising: generating a plurality of input view numbers according to aplurality of reference parameters; generating a plurality of output viewnumbers according to the plurality of input view numbers and at leastone S curve; adjusting image data of a plurality of pixels according tothe plurality of output view numbers; and displaying at least one imageaccording to the plurality of pixels and the image data.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the plurality of reference parameters comprise aplurality of positions of a viewer's eyes, and the method furthercomprises: tracking the plurality of positions of the viewer's eyes. 13.The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of reference parameterscomprise at least one optical parameter of an optical modulator, and themethod further comprises: modulating a plurality of lighting directionsof the plurality of pixels.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the atleast one S curve comprises a plurality of line segments, and a slope ofat least one line segment of the plurality of line segments is smallerthan or equal to one.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at leastone S curve comprises a plurality of line segments, and at least twoline segments of the plurality of line segments have a same slope. 16.The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one S curve comprises aplurality of line segments, and a slope of at least one line segment ofthe plurality of line segments is equal to zero.
 17. The method of claim11, wherein the at least one S curve comprises a plurality of planes,and at least two planes of the plurality of planes have a same normalvector.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: generating theplurality of output view numbers according to the plurality of inputview numbers and the at least one S curve and a look-up table.
 19. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: generating the plurality ofoutput view numbers according to the plurality of input view numbers andthe at least one S curve and a plurality of smoothing factors.
 20. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the step of adjusting the image data of theplurality of pixels according to the plurality of output view numberscomprises: generating a plurality of modification factors; and adjustingthe image data of the plurality of pixels according to the plurality ofoutput view numbers and the plurality of modification factors.